William Henry Allen was born on October 21, 1784 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. He was the son of General William Allen of Revolutionary distinction, and Sarah Jones, a sister of William Jones, at one time governor of Rhode Island.
Allen's early education provided him with a good grounding in penmanship and mathematics and also with considerable skill as an artist.
Allen was appointed a midshipman in the United States Navy April 28, 1800, and his first service was in the frigate George Washington, under Captain William Bainbridge, who, like his later commanders, Barron and Rodgers, gave him proofs of their trust in his enterprise and seamanship. After several years of service in the Mediterranean, he was ordered as third lieutenant to the frigate Chesapeake, and commanded a gun division on board that ill-fated vessel when she was attacked and severely damaged by the British ship Leopard on June 22, 1807, after a refusal by Commodore James Barron to give up certain alleged deserters from the British navy. The surrender of the Chesapeake by Barron without striking a blow, although ample time was given the American commander to clear his ship for action, aroused the indignation of his officers, and especially of Lieutenant Allen, who, the day following the action, drew up a petition to the Secretary of the Navy for the arrest and punishment of Commodore Barron, which was signed by six officers of the Chesapeake. Three of the Chesapeake's crew were killed and eighteen wounded. Barron, though acquitted of cowardice, was suspended from the service for five years without pay, on the charge of not clearing his ship for action.
Promoted to be first lieutenant, he joined the frigate United States under Commodore Decatur in 1809, and on October 25, 1812, took a prominent part in the fierce action between his ship and the powerful British frigate Macedonian, 49 guns, which lasted for nearly two hours and resulted in the surrender of the Maccdonian, so crippled by the accuracy of the American fire that it was doubtful if she would continue to float. Her two principal masts were secured and a jurymast rigged by Mr. Allen who was put in charge of her, with great ingenuity. Allen was promoted to the rank of master-commandant, and he received due credit for the steady discipline that the ship's company had displayed.
Receiving the command of the Argus, sloop-of-war of 20 guns, Allen sailed for France on June 18, 1813, with Mr. Crawford, the newly appointed American minister to France, on board, and, having landed his passenger safely at l'Orient, proceeded on a cruise, the object of which was the difficult one of harrying British commerce in the Irish Channel. After various successes the Argus fell in with the British brig Pelican, 21 guns, a short and sharp fight resulting, during the first few minutes of which Captain Allen's leg was carried off by a round shot. Refusing to go below, he soon fainted from loss of blood and was carried down, together with one of his lieutenants, Watson, who was struck in the head. The Argus continued to be gallantly fought by the other lieutenant, William Howard Allen, but so devastating was the fire of the Pelican that the American brig hauled down her colors. Allen died of his wound in the hospital of Mill Prison, and was buried by the enemy with the honors of war.
Allen greatly distinguished himself during the war, especially in firing the lone shot from the frigate Chesapeake against the British Leopard in its encounter on June 22, 1807. A row galley, the USS Allen, and the Destroyer USS Allen (DD-66) was named after him. Several places, such as Allen Street in Manhattan, New York, and Fort Allen in Portland, Maine, were also named in his honor.
Allen had a strong sense of duty and justice which was repeatedly brought out during his short life by his refusal to ask special favor either for himself or his friends.
Quotes from others about the person
"Captain Allen was esteemed one of the best officers of his class in the navy. A thorough man-of-war's man, he was of mild and gentlemanlike deportment, a fine, martial personal appearance, and of respectable mental attainments. His influence over the crews with which he sailed was very great, and it is not possible to say now what might have been the result of the combat in which he fell, had he not been so early killed. " - Cooper
Allen was unmarried.
